Natural Heritage

Pictured is an example of gneissic bedrock which have been formed at high pressures and temperatures and segregated into visible bands.

Virginia meadow beauty (Rhexia virginica) regionally rare is an Atlantic coastal plain species. This genus is mostly tropical; however there are about 10 species native to North America.














The Round leaf sundew (Drosera rotundifolia) found in bogs and wetlands, is a carnivorous plant that obtains it’s nutrition from trapping very small animals or insect life.













On our way back we came across a fairly large fen full of Cotton grass which indicates a limestone or alkaline base.


















Tawny cotton grass (Eriphorum virginicum)




















This Great Blue Heron was quite elusive therefore this was as close as we were able to approach.

A Weekend Away

This has been a busy summer filled with life and work changes one of which entailed moving to a different hospital. Near the end of the summer, my partner and I went for an overnight camping/canoe trip to the Severn Conservation Area. I haven’t camped in almost 15 years, so this experience was one I will remember for a long time. I was able to re-charge and do some much needed soul-searching while we enjoyed a weekend of exploration and discovery in this beautiful region.

This protected area encompasses approximately 10,000 hectares filled with vascular plant species, some nationally and provincially rare. The Severn River Conservation Reserve is reputed to contain the largest “continuous area of Precambrian bedrock in the world” (OMNR 2008).

We paddled approximately six kilometres and crossed many portages before reaching our destination for the night.

As you can see, this region provides a mixed range of bogs and wetlands; numerous small lakes and mixed deciduous and coniferous forest complexes.

Beaver dam onto outflow of Hart Lake.

We found a wonderful island to set up camp. Although it was the second week of September, I came across this green frog sunning itself at the water’s edge.

The next morning we woke to brilliant sunshine and a heavy mist, the results of which were quite stunning. The weather was unseasonably warm, as we enjoyed an early morning canoe; the scenery and the stillness.